Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Little Elm
Texas residential services run Monday through Friday. Please refer to your neighborhood's specific zoning map for your exact day.
State Mandate
Bag all trash to prevent pests.
Gray (95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Trash must be bagged. Place the cart at the curb or alley by 7:00 a.m. The lid must be completely closed, and the cart must be kept at least 3 feet away from obstacles and other bins.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged regular household trash
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue (95-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
Place items loosely in the cart (do not bag). Place the cart by 7:00 a.m. keeping it a full 3 feet away from your trash cart and any other obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Paper and junk mail
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Bulky items
- ✕Loose debris
- ✕Plastic garbage bags
- ✕Food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be tightly tied into 4-foot by 2-foot bundles weighing less than 50 pounds. Place on the curb on the designated trash day of your assigned bulk week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cut tree limbs
- ✓Brush
- ✓Shrub trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice a month (YELLOW or BLUE schedule weeks).
Placement
Place in the grassy area between the sidewalk and the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the designated collection day. Never place in the alley.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Tied brush bundles
- ✓ Boxed loose debris (under 2x2x4 ft and 50 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial contractor debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Car parts
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Roofing shingles
- ✕ Brick and stone
Up to 6 cubic yards is included with service. Commercial or remodeling debris requires a paid estimate by calling CWD directly.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Little Elm and CWD observe major holidays. If a holiday falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the remainder of the week are delayed by one day, shifting Friday routes to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Bulk and brush pickups scheduled for a holiday week will follow the exact same one-day delay as standard trash collection.
Always verify holiday shifts directly via the CWD website or the Town of Little Elm's official calendar, as unexpected delays occasionally occur.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recycling Loose
Do not place your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags. The recycling facility's sorting machines become jammed by plastic bags, so all items in your blue cart should be completely loose.
Lids Must Be Completely Closed
If your trash or recycling cart is overflowing to the point where the lid cannot close securely, it will receive a red tag and will not be serviced by the automated trucks.
Bulk Placement is Critical
Unlike your regular trash which might be collected from a rear alley, all bulk waste and brush must be placed in the front of your home on the grassy area between the sidewalk and the curb.
Seasonal Information
Fall & Spring
April - May, October - NovemberTake advantage of the town's bi-annual Clean & Green Waste Collection events. Held at the Public Works Service Center, these events provide the only local opportunity for residents to safely dispose of household hazardous waste like paint and pesticides.
Summer
June - AugustHot Texas summers can cause standard household waste to quickly generate foul odors and attract pests. Ensuring all trash is tightly bagged before placing it in your gray cart is mandatory in Little Elm and helps mitigate this issue.
Spring
March - MaySevere spring storms can create excessive yard debris. Residents can utilize the weekend Courtesy Drop-Site for storm debris removal or contact CWD for specialized pickups rather than waiting for their alternating bulk week.
About Little Elm Waste Management
Partnering with Community Waste Disposal (CWD)
The Town of Little Elm partners with Community Waste Disposal to manage all residential solid waste. Residents are provided with a 95-gallon gray cart for standard trash, which must be fully bagged before tossing. Since CWD utilizes automated robotic arms for collection, residents must ensure their bins are placed at least three feet apart and away from any obstacles, such as fences or parked cars, to avoid a red non-service tag.
The Alternating Bulk Waste Calendar
Little Elm manages bulk trash through an alternating collection calendar, categorizing neighborhoods into YELLOW (first and third weeks) or BLUE (second and fourth weeks) schedules. On your designated week, you can place up to six cubic yards of large household items directly on the grassy parkway between the sidewalk and curb—even if your regular trash cart is serviced from a rear alleyway.
Taking Advantage of the Courtesy Drop-Site
If you miss your designated bulk collection week or have extra debris to clear out, you can utilize the Courtesy Bulk Drop-Site located on East Eldorado Parkway. Operating heavily on weekends from Friday evening through Sunday, this site accepts residential bulk waste and brush free of charge. Simply bring your photo ID and a recent Little Elm utility bill to prove active residency, but leave contractor debris like roofing shingles and fence panels at home.
Proper Disposal of Limbs and Yard Debris
Preparing yard waste for curbside collection requires adherence to specific guidelines to ensure safety for the CWD crews. Tree limbs and heavy brush must be cut, tightly tied, and bundled into dimensions no larger than four feet by two feet, with each bundle weighing less than 50 pounds. These bundles are strictly collected during your designated bulk trash and brush week.
Safeguarding Our Waterways from Hazardous Waste
Improper disposal of chemicals can severely impact the nearby lake and storm drains. Little Elm strictly prohibits pouring household hazardous waste, like paint or pool chlorine, into residential bins. Instead, the town hosts comprehensive Clean & Green events every fall and spring, offering a safe, designated opportunity for residents to responsibly dispose of hazardous materials.
Drop-off Facilities
Little Elm Courtesy Drop Site
1690 E. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm, TX 75068
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
My garbage cart has a red tag on it. What does this mean?
A red tag indicates non-service. The top reasons include placing the cart too close to an obstacle (needs a 3-foot clearance), an open lid, placing hazardous waste inside, or setting the cart out of the automated truck's reach.
Do I need to schedule my bulk trash pickup in Little Elm?
No scheduling is required for standard bulk items. Simply check whether your address falls on the YELLOW (1st/3rd week) or BLUE (2nd/4th week) schedule and place up to 6 cubic yards out on your normal collection day.
Where do I place my bulk trash if my regular garbage is picked up in the alley?
Even if your standard gray and blue carts are serviced from a rear alleyway, all bulk trash and brush bundles must be placed at the front of your home in the grassy parkway between the sidewalk and the street.
What should I do if my trash or recycling cart is broken or goes missing?
You can order a replacement cart by contacting the Little Elm Utility Billing Department at 214-975-0480. Note that there is a $75 replacement fee for stolen or missing carts.